My friend was a dedicated youth minister. He hung out with high school and college students and listened to their stories. He was there in their wins and times of need. He noticed some of these young people didn’t have enough money. He didn’t want that to become a hindrance for them to belong. So he set aside a personal “help fund” from his own hard-earned money for their moments of need.  

When one of them was devastated about not joining the summer camp due to the fee, he was ready.

When one of them declined ordering at the restaurant they were in because she couldn’t afford the food there, he treated her.  

He didn’t earn much then, but he willingly offered what he had. He welcomed and included many. He put the little bread and fish he had in Jesus’ hands, and he was able to feed a multitude.

Mon Reyes (rizmonreyes@gmail.com)

Reflect

When the disciples panicked about not having enough bread to feed the multitude, Jesus asked them a simple question: “How many loaves do you have?” How about you? No matter how little you might think it is, what do you have right now that you can be generous with?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You for being enough for us. Teach us to love. Teach us to give. Amen.

St. Francis Xavier, priest, pray for us.

The people expected the coming of the Messiah to defeat their enemies. While this would not happen until the death and resurrection of Jesus, the seeds of His birth were already in the prophecies of Anna and Simeon. Isaiah looked forward to the time when the people would no longer fear death. We do not live in that time, but we still fear death. What is our problem? Maybe we lack the faith to truly believe in the promises of God.

⁶ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. ⁷ On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; ⁸ he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. ⁹ On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” ¹⁰ For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

R: I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; ³ he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) ⁵ You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) ⁶ Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. (R)

Gospel | Matthew 15:29-37

When God wants to do something, He gets it done. Obedience to His will enables us to participate in the fulfillment of His desires. It is not a matter of having all the resources to accomplish something but of being willing to give all that we have and trusting God to provide whatever is lacking.

Gospel Acclamation 

Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.

²⁹ At that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. ³¹ The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. ³² Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” ³³ The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” ³⁵ He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets full.   

Reflect:

What are your “seven loaves and two fish”? What little have you given to God to help Him accomplish what He has set out to do?

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 141 - 145 today.

Mountains in the Scriptures have always been privileged places of encounter with the Divine. In the Gospels, Jesus would often go to the mountain, alone or sometimes with some chosen disciples, to spend quiet time and commune with the Father. Like in today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the mountainside as a natural stage to teach the multitudes. We can draw three blessings that the mountain of the Lord will bring:

The Lord’s mountain will be a bounty of providence: “On this mountain, the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines” (Isaiah 25:6). God’s providence will not be in short supply. The mountain will overflow with wine and food. It is a signal of God’s benevolence toward His people. Today’s Gospel is the New Testament realization of this. On the mountainside, Jesus healed the sick and taught the multitudes. With a good shepherd’s heart, He instructed the disciples: “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat . . .” (v. 32). And the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves ensued.

The Lord’s mountain will be a shield of protection: God’s mountain will protect people from the sting of everlasting death. God will be their wall of security, and those who trust in Him will never be disappointed (see Isaiah 25:810).

The Lord’s mountain will be an everlasting presence: The hand of the Lord will rest on the mountain (v. 10), and as long as the mountain stands, it will be a reminder of God’s abiding presence with His people.

Providence, protection, and presence. This is the hope we long for in this Advent season. This is why we keep the Advent joy in our hearts, and we sing Maranatha: “Come, Lord Jesus!” 

Fr. Joel Jason

Reflection question

As Christmas approaches, set aside for yourself a “mountain of the Lord” where you can encounter God’s providence, protection, and presence. 

In Your mountain, I shall go and rest in Your security, O Lord. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________